TEHRAN –The number of scientific associations as one of the pillars of science in the country has increased from 322 in the Iranian year 1392 (2013 -2014) to 396 last year (ended on March 19), signifying a 22.9 percent growth.

Interdisciplinary and humanitarian associations have experienced the highest growth. Within a decade, the number of interdisciplinary and humanitarian associations has increased from 50 and 102 to 85 and 142, respectively, IRNA reported.

Scientific associations have always played an essential role in producing knowledge and achieving scientific development.

They are the main foundation of institutions beyond political, racial, ethnic, religious, and sexual boundaries.

Scientific associations have emerged in response to the needs of the world of democracy and the enhancement of human solidarity. They have also created an appropriate environment for free thinking and the establishment of a culture of conversations.

Their independence from governments in finance and human resources, speed of action, high decision-making power, limited bureaucracy, and flexible mechanism bolster their efficiency at national and international levels.

Iran’s Deputy Minister of Science, Research, and Technology, Peyman Salehi, in a meeting held on recreating the role of scientific associations and fostering cooperation among the associations, stated that a total of 254, 553 individuals have memberships of 422 scientific associations in the country.

Only 19 percent of these associations (about 82 of them) have more than a thousand members, while influential associations in the world have over 50,000 members, the official added.

According to the latest reports by the Ministry of Science, Research, and Technology in the past Iranian calendar year, the number of scientific associations in Humanities, Technical Engineering, Interdisciplinary, Agriculture, and Art was 142, 92, 85, 38, 31, and 8, respectively.

Iran ranks 32nd in Research Leaders

The 2024 edition of the Nature Index Research Leaders report placed Iran 32nd among Research Leaders globally. The report was based on Nature Index data from January 1 to December 31, 2023.

Institute for Fundamental Sciences (IPM), University of Tehran, and Sharif University of Technology are ranked first to third in the country.

The country is ranked second in Physical Sciences, third in Chemistry, as well as Health Sciences, fourth in Earth and Environmental Sciences, and fifth in Biological Sciences in the region.

Iran’s best global ranking is in Physical Sciences, 27.

The Nature Index is an open database of author affiliations and institutional relationships. The Index tracks contributions to research articles published in high-quality natural science and health science journals, chosen based on reputation by an independent group of researchers.

The Nature Index provides absolute Count and fractional share counts of article publications at the institutional and national levels and, as such, is an indicator of global high-quality research output and collaboration.

Data in the Nature Index are updated regularly, with the most recent 12 months. The database is compiled by Nature Research Intelligence, part of Springer Nature.

MT/MG